ZAGREB, June 21 (Hina) - One of goals of the Regional Conference on Land Mines scheduled for 27-29 June in Zagreb is to make the international community more aware of the problem of de-mining in Croatia, as it still obstructs the
return of displaced people and poses a threat to their security. The conference will include representatives of 38 countries, besides Croatia, as well as officials of international organisations. The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Cornelio Sommaruga, for instance, has accepted the invitation to attend this event in the Croatian capital, the organising committee told a news conference on Monday. Prior to the news conference, it held a session. Jadranka Kosor, a vice-president of the Croatian National Parliament, told reporters that by this conference Croatia would undoubtedly show that it was an important factor of stability in this part of Europe.
ZAGREB, June 21 (Hina) - One of goals of the Regional Conference on
Land Mines scheduled for 27-29 June in Zagreb is to make the
international community more aware of the problem of de-mining in
Croatia, as it still obstructs the return of displaced people and
poses a threat to their security.
The conference will include representatives of 38 countries,
besides Croatia, as well as officials of international
organisations. The President of the International Committee of the
Red Cross, Cornelio Sommaruga, for instance, has accepted the
invitation to attend this event in the Croatian capital, the
organising committee told a news conference on Monday.
Prior to the news conference, it held a session.
Jadranka Kosor, a vice-president of the Croatian National
Parliament, told reporters that by this conference Croatia would
undoubtedly show that it was an important factor of stability in
this part of Europe.
Croatian Assistant Foreign Minister Vladimir Drobnjak assessed
that the Zagreb Conference would be the biggest multilateral
gathering ever held in Croatia.
During the event, employees in the Defence Ministry will
demonstrate the Croatian system of mine clearance and destroy 3,434
land mines on the exercise grounds in Slunj (70 kilometres south of
Zagreb).
According to estimates of the Defence Ministry, mines are still
planted at six thousand square kilometres of Croatian territory. Of
this, 1,500 square kilometres are "real mine fields". It is
necessary to ensure about two billion dollars to remove those
mines.
From 1991 to 1999, 866 people were killed or wounded in explosions
of land mines in Croatia. Since 1995 when security measures were
introduced and the public better acquainted with this danger, the
number of victims has decreased.
(hina) ms